Woolmer body to be kept in Jamaica

12 April 2012

The body of murdered Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer will stay in Jamaica until an inquest is held into his death, police have said.

A coroner on the Caribbean island has ruled that the inquest, with a jury, will be held "as soon as practical" but a date has yet to be set.

The development followed talks between the coroner and former Scotland Yard detective Mark Shields, the deputy commissioner of police in Jamaica.

Pakistan's cricketers are preparing to leave the country after being interviewed and asked to provide DNA samples. Police have been scouring CCTV footage and other electronic records from the Kingston hotel where Mr Woolmer was strangled.

On Friday detectives said Mr Woolmer probably knew his killer - or killers - as there was no sign of forced entry. But hotel officials said there are no records of anyone else entering Mr Woolmer's 12th-floor room on the night he was murdered.

The 58-year-old former England player was found unconscious in his room on Sunday, a day after Pakistan's shock defeat to Ireland in the World Cup.

A statement released by the Jamaica Information Service on behalf of the commissioner of police said that the coroner had directed that Mr Woolmer's body "remain within his jurisdiction" until an inquest is completed.

"A coroner's inquest with a jury into the murder of Bob Woolmer is to be held," the statement, released on Friday, said.

"Following discussions with deputy commissioner of police, Mark Shields, this morning, the coroner directed that the inquest be held as soon as practical. He also ordered that Mr Woolmer's body remain within his jurisdiction until the inquest has been completed."

The statement added that although the Pakistan players were expected to leave Jamaica on Thursday, two team officials would remain in Kingston.

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